POLOKWANE – As Polokwane youth commemorate Youth Day, the focus has turned to the ongoing local government election registrations.

DA councillor: ‘Registering to vote is a critical step’

DA Polokwane Whip and representative at the Political Liaison Committee (PLC) at the local IEC, Councillor Jacques Joubert, said as Youth Day is celebrated, it is important for young people to register to vote because it is a critical step on the road to adulthood and becoming an active participant in South Africa’s hard-earned democracy.

‘I left Polokwane for better opportunities’

A 30-year-old college graduate from Polokwane, Kgotsofatso Mphahlele, said local elections are for municipalities and those who are responsible for developing villages and the province.

Mphahlele left for employment opportunities in another province for five years because he believed Polokwane was under-resourced for youth skills development and had fewer job opportunities.

“Now that I am home, I see a lot of difference in our communities and services provided for the youth, including skills development centres,” he said.

According to Mphahlele, the youth are the future of the economy, a future that will lead the next three generations. Therefore, it is very important to vote for better and for change.

Student: ‘We need service delivery and job creation’

Reitumetse Gugushe, a Tshwane University of Technology student, has registered to vote. She added that she expects better service delivery and, most importantly, a change in the unemployment rate.

“The youth is the future that the government should invest in,” she said.

Watch what others had to say:

We asked young people in Polokwane what voting means them. From hopes for better service delivery to dreams of a brighter future, this is what the youth had to say about the upcoming local elections. pic.twitter.com/xt9UwEit7C

— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) June 16, 2026